Windows 2000 Stuck in Login Loop

[Gyro]

A friend of mine recently installed some security updates form Windows Update. He is not sure which, as he accepted all new updates. After installing and rebooting he is stuck in a login loop.

When the GINA box appears, he inputs username and password and is authenticated, the "Applying personal settings" dialogue box appears and dissapears, but the screen remains standard Windows blue. After a few seconds the "Saving settings" box appears and he is logged off. this process will repeat if login is reattempted.

Since the GINA is passed the "Last Known Good" will not work.

He has no ERD. grrr, I warned him about that.

Safe Mode does the same loop.

If I try a repair, the process will not find the installation.

I can access the "Recovery Console", but could do nothing from there.

I have Knoppix 3.2 so I can boot from CD to edit the registry, but I am not sure of the problme yet. I can find little information provided by microsoft about this problem.

Windows 2000, Athlon processor, 250 MB RAM, SP2.

Thanks in advance if you can help.

[meese]

When at the logon box. Try connecting from another pc via telnet to gain access.

[Gyro]

Thanks meese, it turned out tat when I telneted I needed to start the service by managing remotely, which gave me the idea to check the event viewer remotely, which clued me into the error. No files were loading, all C:\ stuff was erroring out. Turned out the boot record was telling windows it was D:\ instead for C:\. I fdisked the MBR and all was well. Thanks.